4Real Forums: get ready to garden!!

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Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
4Real Forums : Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science

Topic: get ready to garden!!

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monica
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Joined: Feb 09 2007
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Posted: Feb 12 2007 at 1:33am \| IP Logged

we are gearing up for gardening here in Romania. We have had an usually mild winter, would have gladly traded some cookies for some of that snow that many received in the states.
but now the days have a decidely springlike feel. i am getting that garden itch i get every February, and i pull out the magazines and start to plan and plant.
I have a little boy, 4yo, and he has always been by my side in the garden. this year i was thinking of giving him plot of his own to grow whatever he wants. I am thinking i should limit it somewhat to things i know will grow in that location, so he doesnt get too frustrated. also, i know the wait can be so long for little ones, so i was thinking of doing some things that grow quickly, with dramatic results (pole beans, radishes) we also are going to start some seeds indoors soon.
curious as to what others are going to plant with little ones and if anyone has any suggestions of good, easy things to grow together.

Servant2theKing
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Joined: Nov 13 2005
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Posted: Feb 12 2007 at 5:04am \| IP Logged

Pumpkins and sunflowers are fun things for children to grow, but I'm unsure how they'd do in your climate. We've been planting heirloom pole beans for a few years and it's quite fun to watch them get taller and taller! Vertical supports or fencing are great for climbing plants. "Square Foot Gardening" has lots of tips on growing plants in minimal space and extending a garden upward using vertical supports. Christmas Limas, Cranberry Beans and Black Turtle Beans are a few of our favorite heirloom pole beans.

Herbs are also fun to grow with children because they tend to grow profusely and smell wonderful! Mint, basil and chives are three of our favorites and are mild enough that children aren't too finicky about trying them. There's nothing sweeter in late summer than a lunch of iced tea with fresh mint from your garden, and a plate of cottage cheese with garden tomatoes topped with fresh chive!

A fun project is to paint rocks using enamel paint pens. We paint words that have special meaning for us and add designs like hearts and flowers...you can scatter them amidst your plants or use them as a border around your garden plot. We have some that we painted several years ago and they've survived several seasons of snow.

A favorite garden quote:

"Come to my garden,
   rest there in my arms
There I'll see you safely
   grown and on your way...
Stay there in my garden
   where love grows free & wild,
Come to my garden
   come sweet child."

Like you, this is the time of year when we get the gardening itch....we check out oodles of books from the library and read and reread all of our gardening catalogues until they're threadbare! Spring can't come too soon!!! May you and your son spend many blessed times in the garden together!

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All for Christ, our Saviour and King, servant

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chicken lady
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Posted: Feb 12 2007 at 10:53am \| IP Logged

Monica you make me green qwith envy

Not sure if you can get the book Sunflower Houses bit it gives wonderful ideas for kids gardening. Root Shoots Buckets and Boots is another fun book. Both are by Sharon LOvejoy. HAve fun turning that soil

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